Oktoberfest canceled due to expected weather

What would have been the fifth annual Oktoberfest set for this weekend has been canceled, organizers announced Thursday.

The event has been called off due to expected inclement weather and problems with logistics have precluded re-scheduling the event, said Theo McClammy, executive director of Onslow Community Outreach.

The event — canceled after organizers spoke to forecasters with the National Weather Service — is the only community fundraiser for the Outreach’s soup kitchen, homeless shelter and free clinic.

McClammy said it would have been too much of a challenge to line up all of the required local and city permits in time for an October event. A big part of Oktoberfest is the beer garden and organizers felt they wouldn’t have enough time to secure another permit from the state.

Waiting until November was out of the question because organizers depend heavily on military volunteers who would be tied up with upcoming Marine Corps Balls.

“We figured we would be digging a deeper hole and decided to cut our losses,” McClammy said.

Organizers are determined to maintain a long-term relationship with vendors, which means refunding some money, McClammy said.

“Today is all about working with vendors, making sure they’re satisfied,” he said, adding that he hoped those who donated made those contributions to help the charity, not necessarily one event.

The 5K Run is still set to take place from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Runners should assemble at the same starting point.

Anyone wishing to donated to the Outreach can do so by sending a check to Onslow Community Outreach, 600 Court Street, Jacksonville, NC, 28540.

While Hurricane Sandy is expected to stay offshore, Onslow and the surrounding area can expect to feel her impacts.

“It will be a windy and wet weekend,” said meteorologist Hal Austin of the National Weather Service office in Newport.

Rain is expected to begin moving in tonight, continue all day Saturday and taper off Sunday, with the entire area likely to see two to four inches of rain. Winds of 25 to 35 mph are anticipated, with gusts up to 40 mph.

There will also be heavy surf and dangerous rip currents.

Coastal flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide is likely primarily on the south end of Pamlico Sound, including areas such as Down East Carteret County, and east facing beaches north of Cape Lookout. The threat of coastal flooding shifts to soundside of Outer Banks into Monday.